Eva Longoria Parker committed to activism and political advocacy

She's won Screen Actors Guild, ALMA and People's Choice awards for her "Desperate Housewives" role, but the recognition that San Antonio's Eva Longoria Parker finds most humbling these days is for her activism and philanthropy.

By Michael Quintanilla

Published 11:40 am, Wednesday, November 17, 2010

This report appeared in Trends Magazine Sept. 24, 2010.

She's won Screen Actors Guild, ALMA and People's Choice awards for her "Desperate Housewives" role, but the recognition that San Antonio's Eva Longoria Parker finds most humbling these days is for her activism and philanthropy.

Most Popular

The award "speaks to a new generation in civil human rights and philanthropy," says Gwen Harmon, a museum director, citing Parker's work with Eva's Heroes, an organization that helps developmentally disabled children and young adults. It was inspired by Parker's sister, Lisa. The award also recognizes her leadership work with PADRES Contra El Cancer (Parents Against Cancer) and her concern for migrant farm children including a documentary about them called "Harvest." And there's her namesake foundation that raises money for personal charities and causes around the world such as her campaign to house Haiti earthquake victims.

But before Parker, who is studying for a Chicano studies master's degree from California State University Northridge, joins fellow honorees in Memphis - Nobel Peace Prize recipient Dr. Wangari Maathai of Kenya and Dr. Dorothy Cotton, known for her work in social change - the actress will put on her poker face for an Eva's Heroes benefit: the third annual Tony and Eva Parker's Celebrity Casino Night on Oct. 2.

We caught up with Parker - who helms a business empire that includes pitchwoman for L'Oreal and London Fog, launching a namesake perfume, operating two Beso (Spanish for "Kiss") restaurants and a Las Vegas nightclub, Eve - between scenes of a movie being shot in Los Angeles; just the day before she was filming in Mexico.

I HEARD YOU WERE FILMING IN MEXICO. HOW DID THAT GO?

Crazy, busy. But, yes, I've actually filmed two movies this summer. One is called "Without Men" that was shot here in L.A. and in Santa Barbara. It's an independent film based on an amazing novel "Tales From the Town of Widows." All the men go off to war and die so the women have to figure out how to make a new society. It's a dark comedy. In the other movie, "Cristiada," I play Andy Garcia's wife. We shot part of it in Durango. It's a period piece in the 1920s in Mexico when the government overthrew the Catholic Church. I love historical fiction and never imagined that I would do a period piece. The costumes, the makeup, the hair, the set designs, the cars - it's fantastic! And I always dreamed of working with Andy Garcia.

YOU FOUNDED EVA'S HEROES ALMOST FOUR YEARS AGO. WOULD YOU SAY YOU'VE COME A LONG WAY SINCE THEN OR THAT YOU HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO WITH YOUR VISION FOR THE NONPROFIT?

Both. We've come a long way since our inception and we have a long way to go because of dreams I have for the organization. And we're right on track with those goals because of support from the community of San Antonio, which I'm very thankful for - and the parents of these amazing heroes in the program that we are able to keep going and growing.

I KNOW ONE OF THOSE DREAMS IS A FACILITY FOR EVA'S HEROES SO YOU CAN HELP MORE PEOPLE. HOW'S THAT COMING ALONG?

It costs millions and millions and millions of dollars to open a building or a complex, so hopefully that will come to fruition one day. But when Morgan's Wonderland opened up, they also opened up their facilities for us to use whenever we want and that was so generous of Gordon Hartman. Morgan's Wonderland is a dream project. It's a paradise destination for kids with special needs and mental disabilities. And it's the only theme park of its kind. The facilities there are amazing and they are able to accommodate a lot of our activities and a lot of our programs. We are grateful to partner with them. That's where we are now. It's pretty awesome and fantastic. Right now we are doing absolutely great and growing at the rate that we can grow.

HOW HAS THE ECONOMY PLAYED INTO YOUR FUNDRAISING FOR EVA'S HEROES? DO YOU FIND THAT PEOPLE ARE STILL JUST AS GIVING?

It's interesting that you say that because we have found in hard economic times the people that suffer the most are charity groups because nobody has that extra income to spend on philanthropy. We have been really lucky that we have held steady throughout the economy's dip. But it doesn't mean that we're not nervous that we'll never reach our fundraising goal. It's a daunting task to fundraise in any economic climate. But we have managed to have some really loyal supporters who are loyal to the cause, loyal to the message and are loyal to the kids.

SPEAKING OF THE KIDS, YOU'VE POINTED OUT THAT YOU DON'T WANT EVA'S HEROES TO BE A BABY-SITTING FACILITY OR DAY CARE BECAUSE IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT THE PROGRAMS.

You have to keep the kids active and stimulated or else they will regress. We want them to participate in society as normal human beings, so luckily our program gets to do that for them and allow them the chance to be normal citizens contributing to society in their own way.

YOU'VE OFTEN SPOKEN SO ELOQUENTLY ABOUT YOUR SISTER LISA AND YOUR MOM, BOTH OF WHOM HAVE BEEN YOUR LIFE'S INSPIRATION. WHAT DID YOU LEARN AS A KID FROM LISA?

Lisa is absolutely the inspiration for Eva's Heroes because she is my hero. Growing up with a special-needs sister is such a blessing for any family. It makes you very selfless and makes you grow and learn compassion at a very early age. That's a lesson I learned from my sister that I hold on to very, very dearly. She is the one who taught me to treat everybody with compassion.

BY THE WAY, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR LEGACY FREEDOM AWARD.

Thank you so much!

IT'S A TRIBUTE TO YOUR FAMILY THAT YOU HAVE USED YOUR CELEBRITY - FAME AND FORTUNE - FOR SO MANY WONDERFUL CAUSES. HOW CAN ONE WHO ISN'T FAMOUS OR RICH HELP?

I say that all the time. Most philanthropists are all around us. You don't have to be rich or famous to be charitable. You can give of your time. You can donate clothes to the Salvation Army. You can spend time at a soup kitchen. There are so many things you can do to make a difference in people's lives, especially if you are blessed as I am. And I am not talking about money or fame. I am talking about how I am blessed with my health. I am blessed with amazing parents. I am blessed with an amazing family. I am blessed with a great husband. So I count my blessings in that way. I have so much love and energy and spirit to give to others. I think that can be found in everyone.

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN YOU RECEIVED WORD ABOUT THE FREEDOM AWARD?

I think I was working in L.A. and going "Huh?" I feel like I am still so young in my activism life. I'm not saying I am a young person but I am so young in seeing what I want to be able to accomplish in civil rights for Latinos, civil rights for women, civil rights for children's health care. There is so much I want to fight for and that I really want to make a difference for. Activism and political advocacy is a long, hard road and I am really committed to fighting that fight.

WHERE DOES YOUR DRIVE COME FROM?

My philanthropic drive definitely comes from my mother. My Latino pride - my Mexican American pride - comes from my father, who always taught me to never forget where you came from, and I never do. And even though I am ninth-generation American, I'm as American as apple pie but as Mexican as an enchilada. To have that dichotomy - I embrace it! I have sympathy and empathy for people of my culture who don't have the opportunities that I fortunately have, whether it's health care or education or the simple rights of being a citizen of this country. There are a lot of privileges that I have and so many people fought before me so that I could have them. So I want to continue their fight to make a better life for those who want it and earn it and need it.

WE NEED TO CHANGE GEARS HERE AND TALK ABOUT POKER.

Yes, let's talk poker. Well, Phil Hellmuth is coming to emcee. He has a sister with special needs so this is a cause near and dear to his heart. My husband and I will definitely be there and a bunch of the Spurs players and the folks who came last year.

HAVE YOUR POKER SKILLS IMPROVED?

You know what? I was really good the first year. I placed 14th. Last year I didn't play so good. My goal every year is only to beat my husband. If I beat my husband then I have won in my mind.

DO YOU HAVE A GOOD POKER FACE?

I don't! I have such a bad poker face - it's written across my forehead whatever my next move is. But we're really excited about the casino night. Last year the poker tournament was sold out. Please tell everyone to go to the website for information, because the tournament only holds so many people. Get your seats now, everyone.